Longtime NHL coach John Muckler passed away on Monday at the age of 86.
The former Buffalo Sabres head coach, director of hockey operations and general manager spent six seasons with the organization between 1991 and 1997.
Muckler joined the Sabres as the team's director of hockey operations after spending many years with the Edmonton Oilers' coaching staff. While in Edmonton, he won four Stanley Cups as an assistant coach on Glen Sather's staff, and won a fifth Stanley Cup in 1990 as the head coach of the Oilers.
Shortly after joining the team, Muckler would become the head coach of the team, replacing Rick Dudley behind the bench during the 1991-92 season. In 1993, Muckler also assumed the role of general manager after Gerry Meehan decided to take the role as executive vice president of sports operations with the Sabres.
In four seasons behind the bench in Buffalo, Muckler led the team to a 125-109-34 record, and also coached the team to four straight playoff appearances. Following the 1995 season, he stepped down as head coach to focus on his front office role with the Sabres.
After the 1997 season, Muckler was fired as general manager by Sabres President Larry Quinn, and was then replaced by Darcy Regier.
After his time in Buffalo, Muckler would go on to be the head coach of the New York Rangers for three seasons before becoming the general manager of the Ottawa Senators in 2001, and finally a senior advisor with the, then, Phoenix Coyotes in 2008.
Muckler finished his coaching career with a record of 276-288-84 with the Oilers, Sabres, Rangers and also the Minnesota North Stars.